Valentina stood in the dark corridor outside the duke's chambers. The moonlight that fell through the high windows did not penetrate the shadows that Valentina had drawn around herself.

"The door is locked," Vyxara whispered in her head. "You remember the right pattern?"

With her eyes closed, Valentina wove the right Essence pattern and let Luvt and Ard's searching feelers wander into the lock. The lock was secured by a protective pattern, but it did not even respond to her opening pattern. The mechanics were complex, but not impossible to manipulate. A gentle push here, a subtle shift there... The door opened with a barely audible click.

The duke's private chambers were bathed in warm candlelight. Heavy tapestries muffled every step and even in his most private chambers, bookshelves were lined up, interspersed with tasteful landscape paintings.

Duke Cosimo was sitting in a deep leather armchair by the fireplace, an open book in his hand, an Essence lamp providing him with light. He looked up when Valentina entered and his eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Amazing," muttered the duke. "Most people knock, you know." He wasn't annoyed, more amused.

"Most people aren't Essence Weavers," Valentina replied, her voice calm but her heart pounding.

"You're... unexpected," he said with an appreciative smile. He put the book aside and stood up. "But most welcome."

"I thought it was time for some clarity, Your Grace," Valentina said. Her voice sounded firmer than she felt.

"Oh, how direct," Vyxara commented, amused. "Look how he likes that."

The duke stepped closer, his movements smooth despite his imposing figure. "Clarity?" He stopped in front of her, close enough for her to catch his lavender scent. "About what exactly?"

"About your offer. About the... partnership that you proposed." Valentina lifted her chin. "I accept."

A warm smile spread across his face. "Again: how refreshingly direct." His hand gently stroked her cheek. "Most young ladies would let themselves be courted endlessly."

"Why waste time, Your Grace?"

"Oh, he likes that," Vyxara laughed as appreciation, hunger and yes, even an undeniable respect flashed in his eyes. His fingers slid down her neck, gently pulling her closer.

His kiss was surprisingly gentle, almost questioning. When Valentina leaned towards him, he became more demanding.

"See?" purred Vyxara. "He knows exactly what he's doing."

The duke broke away from her, his eyes dark with desire. "Come," he said softly and led her through the door into his bedchamber.

The room was elegantly and comfortably furnished. A huge four-poster bed dominated one side, the curtains made of heavy burgundy velvet.

"You are beautiful," the duke murmured as he removed her gauzy nightrobe and let her lavender grey silk nightdress fall from her shoulders. His hands were warm and skillful, and Valentina shivered under his touch.

Valentina shivered again as the duke gently lowered her onto the huge bed and knelt between her thighs. She felt the velvety sheet under her naked back as his hands stroked her thighs, pulling them apart until she was completely open to him.

The Essence lamps bathed the room in a warm, golden light, and the heavy curtains of the bed created an intimate atmosphere. Valentina felt a little nervous, but also excited, as the duke's breath brushed against the inside of her thighs.

"Relax and enjoy it," Vyxara whispered in her head and she took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she felt the first warm touches of the duke's lips as he slowly kissed his way tenderly up to her core.

Valentina gasped as his tongue slipped between her folds. His lips and tongue were skillful and experienced, and he tasted her extensively as if she were a rare feast. He licked and sucked on her, finding all her sensitive spots and skillfully stimulating them with his mouth.

"Look how much he likes it," Vyxara giggled as the duke smacked, licked and kissed Valentina with obvious pleasure. "He looks like he could spend the whole day down there."

"You taste heavenly," he murmured against her skin. Valentina felt the heat in her abdomen grow and her arousal intensify. She dug her fingers into the sheet beneath her and arched her back as the duke's tongue slid over her most sensitive spot again and again.

"Your Grace," she gasped breathlessly, unable to hold back. "Oh Martyr, yes!"

The duke responded with a low, satisfied growl and increased the intensity of his efforts. Valentina felt as if she was melting inside, her body quivering with pleasure.

Her hips gyrated involuntarily as the duke continued to pleasure her with his tongue. She felt the tension building in her body, felt the heat growing between her thighs. His hands held her hips tightly, pulling her closer to his mouth as if he wanted to drink every drop of her desire.

"Yes," sighed Vyxara. "That's it, that's exactly it."

The duke increased the tempo of his tongue strokes and Valentina moaned loudly without restraint as the wave of pleasure crashed over her. Her body shook and twitched in the aftermath of her orgasm as the duke continued to lick her gently, savoring her fading arousal.

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Valentina lay there panting, her skin glistening with sweat. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw the duke's satisfied grin directly above her.

"You're so beautiful when you come," he murmured and kissed her gently on the mouth. Valentina could taste herself and blushed slightly. She looked up at him, still breathing heavily. Suddenly she was overcome with a feeling of power and desire. She wanted more, she wanted to feel him inside her.

"Come here," she said in a gruff voice and pulled him onto the bed. The duke grinned mischievously and let himself fall onto his back. Valentina sat astride him and stroked his broad chest with her hands. She could hardly believe that she was here, with him, the Duke of Duskenshire. It seemed like a dream to her.

The duke looked up at her, lust clearly written on his face. He reached for her breasts, kneading and stroking them while Valentina slowly lowered herself onto him. He moaned pleasurably as he penetrated her.

Valentina began to move her hips, riding him in a slow rhythm. His hands slid over her body, caressing and kneading her breasts as she moved on top of him.

The duke moaned beneath her and gripped her hips. She enjoyed the feeling of his hard manhood deep inside her and looked down into his lust-filled eyes.

"Ride him harder," Vyxara whispered.

Valentina quickened her pace, lifting and lowering herself onto him faster. He gasped and moaned beneath her, his hips lifting towards her to return her every thrust.

She looked down at him, watching his face contorted with lust. Suddenly she realized that she was having sex with a duke, one of the most powerful magnates in the realm, who could have anything he wanted. And he wanted her.

"It's a bit surreal, isn't it?" Vyxara remarked dryly. "The great Cosimo Greystone beneath you, inside you."

Valentina smiled and accelerated her movements even more. She felt strong, desirable. And she enjoyed being the one to make him lose control completely.

Valentina threw her head back and let herself be carried away by lust. She could feel the duke hardening deep inside her and knew that he was about to come and she wanted to savor it, wanted to bring him there, wanted to make him reach his peak.

Vyxara whispered advice to her, telling her how to move her hips to give him maximum pleasure. Valentina followed willingly and watched in fascination as the powerful duke's face went slack and he lost himself more and more in her clutches of passion.

"Yes," he moaned, his voice hoarse with desire. "Oh, yes."

Finally, he reared up beneath her and buried himself deep inside her. "I'm coming," he gasped. "Oh Martyr, Valentina!" She rode him with all her might, feeling his body tense and quiver as he came deep inside her. She felt the warm pulsation of his semen inside her as he poured himself into her and enjoyed the moment of absolute connection, strangely satisfied, even if she didn't have a second orgasm herself.

Then she rolled off him and lay down next to him. The duke pulled her close and kissed her forehead tenderly. "You were incredible," he murmured appreciatively. Valentina snuggled up to him, enjoying his strong arms around her body and explored her feelings.

"It still feels surreal," she thought to herself and Vyxara whispered, "Yeah, but it doesn't feel bad, does it?"

No, it didn't feel bad. In fact, it felt... good. Better than good. It felt like she was alive, like she had found something she had been looking for all this time.

They lay next to each other in the rumpled sheets. The duke gently stroked a sweaty strand of hair from her face.

"That was... unexpectedly enthusiastic," he said with a satisfied smile.

"I do nothing half-heartedly, Your Grace."

He laughed softly. "I can see that. You know, I had prepared a weeks-long process of cautious rapprochement. Subtle gestures, random touches, gifts..." He shook his head in amusement. "And then you just come to me and skip all that."

"Wouldn't that have been a waste of time?" Valentina propped herself up on one elbow. "We both know what we want."

"And what do you want, my clever one?" His hand stroked her back and made her shiver pleasantly.

"Access. Contacts." She held his gaze. "The opportunity to continue research at the hospital. Putting in a good word for me with other Essence Weavers. A good time here in Dusktown. Help for my future. And, of course, I want all the gifts anyway." She smiled.

"Direct as always." He nodded appreciatively. "Good. Honesty is important in a partnership." His hand moved lower. "And in return?"

"You have my company. My affection. All of me, really. And, of course, my discretion."

"The duchess will appreciate that," he murmured as his lips caressed her neck.

"I won't embarrass her," Valentina promised. Her breathing quickened under his touch.

"Good." His hand slid between her thighs. "Then let's seal this pact..."

"Oh, how poetic," Vyxara mocked, but Valentina was barely listening. She lost herself in his experienced touch and felt her lust awaken again. She bent towards him and moaned softly. The duke kissed her neck and murmured words of appreciation in her ear.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered hoarsely. "I could love you all night."

Valentina smiled faintly and shivered at the touch of his breath on her neck. "That sounds like a tempting offer, Your Grace."

He laughed deeply and warmly. "Oh, you sure know how to drive a man out of his mind, beautiful." With a jerk, he turned her onto her stomach and pulled her hips towards him.

Valentina gasped in surprise as she felt him enter her effortlessly from behind. His manhood was already hard and ready again, and felt so incredibly good inside her. She supported herself on her hands and knees and straightened up a little.

The duke grabbed her hips and pulled her towards him harder with each thrust. Valentina felt the pressure of his loins against her bottom as he thrust deep inside her. His thrusts became faster and harder and Valentina gasped with pleasure.

"Oh yes," the duke moaned behind her, "you feel so good."

Valentina could only sigh in agreement. She lost herself in the rhythm of their bodies, which carried them both higher and higher. The duke leaned forward, grabbing her breasts and kneading them in time with his thrusts and Valentina felt completely taken by him, his bulk heavy on her, his breath on her neck, his manhood deep inside her.

The duke straightened up again and suddenly Valentina felt a sharp pain on her bottom. The duke had slapped her. She gasped in surprise, convulsing in shock around his manhood, but a warm tingling sensation was already spreading from the spot, heightening her arousal. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

"You like it?" asked the duke with a mischievous grin.

Valentina bit her lip and nodded. The duke's hand landed on her bottom again, harder this time, and Valentina moaned loudly.

Vyxara giggled comfortably and contentedly in some corner of Valentina's mind.

The duke increased the speed of his thrusts and penetrated her even deeper. Valentina felt the tension building in her body and knew that she would soon come. Then he reached between her thighs and stroked her with well-dosed pressure and that finally pushed her over the edge.

With a loud moan, Valentina came for the second time that night. Her body twitched and shook under her climax as he remained buried deep inside her. Then she felt his manhood pulsate and with a satisfied grunt, he poured himself into her again.

They remained connected for a moment until her breathing had returned to normal. Then the duke gently withdrew from her and sank onto the bed next to Valentina. He pulled her to his side and kissed her tenderly.

"You are a wonderful lover," he murmured.

Valentina snuggled up to him and enjoyed the after-effects of their passion. She felt satisfied, but also a little confused. The intensity of her feelings, how willingly she had given herself to him, surprised even herself.

"Don't worry and enjoy it," Vyxara purred reassuringly. "I'll warn you if you lose yourself."

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